31.7.10

Looking at this picture now, I notice how overexposed it is--so much so that the radio antenna (which I promise does indeed stand on that pediment out at sea) has vanished into the brilliantly bright oblivion.

30.7.10

29.7.10

No windows, no doors, a ramshackle stairway that I would frankly fear to test with my own weight. I've shown other views of this building before. It's one of my local favorites. It's a gem. Check out it's other faces:

27.7.10

I took a little walk while waiting for my car to be washed in Ramlet el Baida, a neighborhood south of Beirut. Along the way I wandered past this floor plan outside a construction site in the neighborhood.

It's spacious and chic just like the others floor plans I've posted. It also has a lot of balcony space off the main living areas that (I think) lends itself to living fluidly between inside and outside. I like that. In addition to the double living room (which are formal, for company), this one has a separate, informal living room, which is nice. That's where the TV goes, and the family with it.

26.7.10

25.7.10

The web doesn't want for pictures of the Al-Amin Mosque. Google it. It's huge, new, centrally located, and all of that makes it an oft-photographed landmark in town.

There aren't as many shots of the detailed craftsmanship, and the Al-Amin Mosque is wonderfully ornate. Since I'm a little bit in love with details like these, that's what I'm posting.

Here's a sample, a small collage of the beautiful wood, metal, and stone work.

Unlike other downtown buildings, mosques, and churches, Al-Amin Mosque is not a historic building. For me, that makes the craftsmanship all the more impressive. It's true; they don't make them like they used to. But in this case, I think they really tried.

24.7.10

It was really nice, really relaxing, and best of all, I swam for the first time in the Mediterranean. That's right folks. In all our years living within a stone's throw of it, I never had actually gotten all the way in, not until we came to Lazy B.

22.7.10

There are lots and lots of streets in Beirut, and (from what I've seen) they're all numbered. Some of them also have a name. Of the streets that are named, only a few are famous enough that people generally know and use the street's name. Because street names really aren't in use, directions rely on other things--you'll be told that your destination is near this or that business or restaurant, near thus and such square, plaza, or major round-about.

So I was intrigued by this old street sign, from the collection of photos of Beirut taken in 1965 that I linked to last time.

I decided to track this place down.

It took me a very long time to find the street, frankly, much longer than it should have. Ibn Sina is a major route that connects the Corniche with downtown and major highways that lead to other parts of the city. It's a one-way road at least six lanes across. People double park on both sides of it, which can reduce this thoroughfare to a mere one or two lanes. I'm almost never on foot here, because it's not really a destination. Honestly, I didn't even know this stretch of road had a name or a number.

These days, though, there isn't a single sign that actually lists the name 'Ibn Sina'. Instead, this is what you'll find:

And there aren't many of these either. I really hoped I'd be able to track down the exact place in the vintage photo, but I wasn't. But at least I found the street. At least it is still there.

21.7.10

For photography, light makes all the difference, and the light of the noon day sun isn't the kind that most photographers prefer. It can wash out colors, cast disfiguring shadows, force people's faces into squinty contortions, and bring about other unpleasant effects.

But I liked the shadows it cast on this shutter hook. Which, by the way, is a name I made up just now because I don't know its proper name or if it even has one. Anyone out there know for sure?

18.7.10

The first floor plan I posted was pretty fancy, but this one outdoes it. I found it outside a construction site not far from the Intercontinental Hotel near the Corniche.

It has one unit per floor, unlike the first which had two on each floor. There are four bedrooms up from three, and each bedroom has its own full bath. You'll note the double living room and (if you include the balcony space) double dining.

Like the other one, this plan features a separate elevator and entrance for the maid. This was fashionable decades ago. Then it fell out of fashion and the separate entrance disappeared. Looks like it's making a comeback.

15.7.10

I could be wrong about this. Being wrong isn't that uncommon for me, but I think these odd things on the roof--these strange metal capped things are mufflers to stifle the sound of gas-powered generators that kick in when municipal power fails.

13.7.10

Laziz is a casual Lebanese restaurant in Hamra. Here's a shot of their interior decor. I was able to take this picture from my table as I waited for my food. I like it that even their air ducts are embellished.

Although their menu is devoted to traditional Lebanese food, some of it is fantastically unconventional. Kebbe, for example. It's as thoroughly typical as hummus and taboule. You can buy kebbe anywhere--and it's delicious. Of course, you'll find typical, traditional kebbe at Laziz, but they've also got a variety made with pumpkin which is frankly amazing. Try it if you're ever in town.

12.7.10

I took this picture because of the doorway and that amazingly tall, upward reaching arch above it. But increasingly I like this picture for those two plams, inclined toward each other like old friends.

9.7.10

8.7.10

This is the very peaceful, very empty waiting room in the labor and delivery wing of CMC--the Johns-Hopkins affiliated Clemenceau Medical Center.

I normally hate hospitals, but I don't have a single reason to hate this place. Every time I've gone in, the medical center has been well-staffed (and the staff have been helpful), the environment has been calm and quiet, and the whole facility is spotless. It's all very soothing, actually.

5.7.10

Downtown Beirut has many beautiful churches and mosques. It also has this ruin, a church that was badly damaged during the civil war. I've heard conflicting reports about its fate, and as always I'll keep my fingers crossed for preservation.

About Me

Everybody's looking for something. Mary Ann is looking for the real Beirut, whatever that means. These are the photos she takes along the way.

You can browse around the archives here or check out her other blogs. There's one from a few years ago, back when she blogged about art. And then there's another from '09 when she lived in St. Louis (USA).